Author: Bill Tarling

“The West Virginia Senate’s Finance Committee unveiled Monday a complicated and sweeping set of tax reforms. The proposed refiguration of the state’s tax code is somewhat of a game of musical chairs — with a few significant hurdles to overcome. Lawmakers in the GOP-led Senate are continuing their push to roll back the manufacturing machinery, equipment and inventory tax  but, with a committee originating bill, they’re also tacking on a proposal that would eliminate taxes on retail inventory and automobiles. To make up the difference in revenue, lawmakers are proposing a hike on consumer sales, tobacco and e-cigarette taxes.”

ARTICLE LINK:

W.Va. Senate Finance Committee Unveils Proposed Reforms To Manufacturing, Property, Tobacco Taxes

“A new study by researchers at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has looked at how vaping compares to non-smokers/vapers during pregnancy. They found that vaping has no impact on birth weight and is vastly better than the birth weight of smoking mothers.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Obstetric Outcomes

“Clive Bates is one of the world’s foremost experts on alternative nicotine products. In fact, he is so knowledgeable and adept at applying logic to tobacco harm reduction that the United States Surgeon General blocked him on Twitter. He has just published a lengthy question and answer resource on nicotine science and policy, including a section debunking common myths surrounding vaping.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Forensic Analysis from Bates

“The final e-facts task force meeting is happening Monday afternoon. Members of the task force and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot will meet in Annapolis to discuss findings about electronic smoking devices, known as e-cigarettes or vapes. This comes as more people across the country are diagnosed with vaping-related illnesses. Just last week, the comptroller announced the first prohibition in the U.S. of sales of disposable flavored e-cigarettes. The report is expected to including findings about recommendations to protect the public from risks associated with the devices. Task force members will meet at 2 p.m.”

ARTICLE LINK:

E-Facts Task Force To Discuss Findings On E-Cigarettes Monday

“Indiana State University’s trustees will consider a proposal to add electronic cigarettes to the western Indiana school’s ban on tobacco-related products. A draft policy that would ban vaping will be presented to ISU’s trustees this week. A final policy recommendation will be submitted for May’s trustees’ meeting. If it’s adopted, the vaping ban would be implemented on July 1. The school’s trustees could suggest changes prior to adoption of any final policy. The current draft policy would prohibit electronic smoking devices, hookah, smoking and tobacco product use on property owned, operated or leased by the university.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Indiana State University to consider proposed vaping ban

“Nearly two months later, there’s still confusion over who will enforce the federal law, and local governments are working to comply with it. With little direction, many Fargo area businesses have posted the new age in stores and trained staff to not sell to anyone under the age of 21. Now Fargo leaders are looking into writing local laws to match the federal mandate so that local law enforcement has authority to enforce the law. Typically, federal agents enforce federal laws, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes violators. Drew Wrigley, U.S. attorney for North Dakota, said his office hasn’t received guidance on how to handle the change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to oversee enforcement of the new age requirement, according to handouts shown to Forum News Service by law agencies. Local police cannot enforce a federal law unless state and local governments pass their own legislation to match federal law. “We would only enforce it if the state of North Dakota changed the law,” said Fargo police spokeswoman Jessica Schindeldecker. Discussions on how the city of Fargo can update its ordinances to raise the age for buying tobacco are in early stages, Anenson said Friday, Feb. 14, during a Fargo Cass Public Health Board meeting.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Trump hiked the tobacco-buying age to 21. Now amid confusion, Fargo mulls how to proceed

“In 2018, French Oncologist Professor David Khayat mounted a defense on the use of e-cigarettes to tame tobacco-related diseases. Earlier this month in Paris, the International Conference on Harm Reduction in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was grappling with this same issue with Khayat defending his position. “As an oncologist, I encourage my patients to quit. But if they can’t, I must offer them alternatives. Even when people know that smoking is bad for their health, they continue to smoke. 64% of people with lung cancer continue to smoke,” he said. According to Khayat, the role of oncologists is not to eradicate tobacco but rather eradicate cancer and today’s alternative are heated tobacco and e-cigarettes.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Can technology lower exposure to tobacco linked ailments?

“There have been rare incidents of E-cigarettes or “vapes” exploding and seriously injuring people. It has been suggested that battery-related issues may lead to vape explosions. Follow safety advice from OPSS and our partners to take charge of e-cigarette battery safety.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Take charge of battery safety when using e-cigarettes

“Both the tobacco and e-cigarette industries, which has the Capitol hallways filled with industry lobbyists, centers on efforts by some key state lawmakers who want to put a major dent in tobacco and vape companies’ financial bottom lines by banning or restricting popular flavored products. While some consumers may think vaping and tobacco interests work hand in hand, the two sectors are working very much on their own in this 2020 confrontation in Albany and, increasingly, jockeying against each other over who might come out on the losing end of this debate. A flavor ban on vaping products, beyond the recent partial federal prohibition involving flavors from cherry to coffee, appears the more likely route before session ends in early June, especially given publicity over high teen vape usage. The tobacco industry’s main mission with any flavor ban: Get menthol exempted from such a prohibition.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Lobbyists line up as Albany clash over flavored tobacco, vaping intensifies

“Local vaping groups have criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for publishing “an atrociously erroneous” question and answer (Q&A) page on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, or vapes). “The Q&A has nine questions and every answer the WHO provides is filled with false, misleading or simplistic information,” said Peter Paul Dator, president of The Vapers Philippines. “We have always questioned the WHO’s competence in tobacco control, particularly in recognizing tobacco harm reduction as a public health strategy and the potential for new technologies, such as e-cigarettes, to reduce smoking-related harms. By publishing this disgraceful Q&A on e-cigarettes, the WHO violated every precept of responsible science communication and sound policymaking,” said Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Vaping groups hit ‘erroneous’ WHO Q&A on e-cigs